The Dallas Cowboys have agreed to terms with Mike Zimmer for Zimmer to become the teams new defensive coordinator, he confirmed to ESPN insiders on Monday.
Monday’s news arrives nearly a week after the former Minnesota Vikings head coach apparently agreed to join the organization. It also follows shortly after a report came out earlier Monday that Rex Ryan was still in the running for the role.
“I’m excited and honored to be back with a great organization,” Zimmer said. “I’m thrilled to work with Mike McCarthy, for whom I have had a ton of respect (for) in our NFC North days, and to do anything I can do to help the Joneses and the Cowboys.”
Zimmer, who is 67, has remained out of football since he was let go by the Vikings after the 2021 season. He replaces Dan Quinn, who was named as the Washington Commanders’ head coach on Feb. 1.
Zimmer was a Cowboys assistant coach from 1994 to 2006, starting as a defensive assistant, moving to defensive backs in 1995. This was the last season for which Dallas won a Super Bowl. He would then move to the Defensive Coordinator under Dave Campo (2000-02) and Bill Parcells (2003-06) during his DC tenure from 2000-2006.
The Vikings established a 72-56-1 regular-season record under Zimmer from 2014-2021. Zimmer is set to embark on his second stint with the Cowboys after previously working his way up from an assistant role to defensive coordinator from 1994-2006.
Zimmer is the third defensive coordinator under McCarthy in five seasons. Mike Nolan held the job in 2020, but was replaced by Quinn after the Cowboys gave up a franchise record 473 points. Dan Quinn oversaw a defense that led the NFL in takeaways in 2021 and 2022 while helping the Cowboys to three straight 12-5 seasons and three trips to the playoffs.
It will be interesting to see what this defense does under Mike Zimmer.
Jaden Chandler-Parnell, or “JC” is a Sports & Sports Betting Insider for Stare Down Sports. You can Follow him on X @Jaden95Chandler
Follow Stare Down Sports on X for all of the latest news and updates @StareDownSports
Leave a Reply